Packaging machine



Ma 18, 1937. 2' a. R. STE-TSON PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22. 19:54; 4 Sheets-Sheet. 1

8% a a s Y 0H 5 2 n T m ,TQ 2 W3. 0 n k. .5 hf i1! w A m+ W QN D .u m 3 3 H 3 May 18, 1937. B. R.. STETSON PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 18, 1937. B. R. STETSON PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1934 {Sheets-Sheet 4 a m a m 5 i i. M Z a l HEW w w w a M n.l w i M a 4 I [raven or .fi/zwoFoeo KUTETso/v ATToENE Y6.

Patented May 18, 1937 PACKAGING MACHINE Bradford It. Stetson, Minneapolis, Minn, as-

signor to Bemis Bro. Bag 00., Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation oi Missouri Application hngust 32, 1934, Serial No. 740,881

12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful im-' provements in packaging machines, and more particularly to machines adapted to deliver a,

measured quantity of material into each bag or container.

Packaging machines of the character used for packaging coffee, and other commlnuted materials, in small bags or packages are usually provided with a small, short spout over which the open mouth of the empty bag is fitted, and the operator of such machines usually manually holds the bag over the spout while the bag is being filled. The bag is thenusually placed upon a conveyer and transported to another station where it maybe closed and sealed and prepared for storage and distribution. In machines of this type, considerable time has heretofore been lost because of the necessity of the operator having to hold each bag in position while being filled, which obviously increases the cost of packaging the material.

A feature of the present invention is to pro-' 'vide means adapted for use in connection with a packaging machine of the type above mentioned, whereby such a machine may be rendered substantially automatic in operation, the only man- 'ual operation required being to slip an empty bag over the filling spout of the machine. each time the bag supported thereon has been filled and removed therefrom. In other words, by the employment of the novel mechanism herein disclosed, when once an empty bag has been man-- ually fitted over the filling spout, it is automatically supported thereon, and filled, and the filled bag delivered onto a conveyer which conveys the bag to a suitable destination where the bagtop may be closed and sealed by suitable means.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide means operable in connection with a packaging machine, whereby the operation of filling the packages or containers is greatlyexpedited. v

A further obiect'is to provide a mechanism adapted for use in connection with a packaging machine which is simple'and inexpensive in construction, and is efiicient and positive in operation, and whereby all of the operations of filling the bag and delivering it to a predetermined destination, are rendered automatic, with the exception of slipping the empty bags over the filling spout of the machine.

Other objects of the invention reside in the means provided for releasing the container sup-' porting member from its inoperative position, each time a bag has been fitted overthe filling tube; in the means for momentarily interrupting the downward movement of the bag supporting conveyer belt, whereby allof the material which has been discharged into the filling spout will be delivered into the open mouth of the bag before the latter passes from beneath the filling spout; and, in the unique and simple construction of the mechanism, as a whole, and whereby it may readily be attached to a conventional packaging machine.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying dlizglinss and will be pointed out in the annexed c s.

member Just before the bag is'delivered onto the In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure'designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the .ap-

paratus, partially in section, showing the bag supporting member or arm in its lowered posl tion, and also showing a bag about to be fitted over the filling tube;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 3, showing the bag positioned for filling upon the bag supporting member;

Figure3isapian viewof Figural;

Figure 4 is an end view of the apparatus, look ing at it from the left hand side, when viewed as shown in Figure l;

Figure'fi is a detail sectional view on the line i H oi Figure 8, showing the means for"l $ckins the bag supporting member in its inoperative or lowered position:

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the position 01 the parts when the bag supporting arm has been released and iein the position shown in Figure 2; V

'Figure '7 is a similar view showing the detent provided upon the bag supporting arm about to be moved into locking engagement with the latch to thereby secure the arm in its lowered position, as shown in Figure l; i

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figural; and

Figure 9 is a detail view briefly illustrating a portion of a conventional weighing mechanism.

In the selected embodiment of the invention here shown, for purposes of disclosure, there is illustrated a portion of a conventional packaging machine comprising a hopper 2, inwhich is mounted the usual weighing mechanism, generally indicated by the numeral 3, and comprising a container 4, having a rotor mounted for rotation therein. The rotor is shown comprising four blades 5, one of which always defines one upright wall of the container 4, and another the bottom wall thereof. The container 4 is supported upon one end of a scale beam 3, in the usual well-known manner, and the coffee or other material to be packaged is delivered into the container from a hopper 1, positioned over the container, and partially illustrated in Figure 9. The weighing mechanism is adjusted or set for discharging a predetermined quantity each time it is operated by the weight of the material as, for example, one pound, so that each time a pound of coffee has been discharged into the container 4, the rotor 5 is released, whereupon the coffee or other material is discharged into the hopper 2, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 9. The weighing mechanism is of ordinary well-known construction and forms no part of the present invention, and it is therefore thought unnecessary to further describe the same.

The hopper 2 is shown provided with a comparatively short filling spout 3, over which the open end of the bag, indicated by the numeral 3, is fitted when the weighing and packaging machine is used without the invention herein disclosed.

The present invention comprises an auxiliary spout II, the upper end of which is fitted over the spout 3 of the hopper 2 and suitably secured thereto by such means as a clamping bolt 12, shown in Figure 1.

A conveyer belt I3 is located directly beneath the spout ii and is supported upon suitable rollers i4 and I5, shown mounted upon shafts l3 and i1, respectively, which are supported in bearing brackets l3 and H, as best shown in Figure 4. A suitable sprocket 2| may be secured to one of said shafts, whereby the conveyer belt may be driven from a suitable source of power, not shown in the drawings. The lower end of the filling spout or tube II is located at an elevation above the conveyer belt i3 whereby the top 22 of a bag 3, when the latter has been filled and is delivered onto the conveyer belt i3, may

pass freely from beneath the filling spout II, by

the action of the belt l3.

To eliminate the usual operation of manually holding the bag over the discharge end of the filling spout while the bag is being filled, an arm 23 is provided, one end of which has a plate 24 secured thereto, which extends outwardly to one side of the arm 23 in a position to engage a portion of the bottom of the bag, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3. The arm 23 is pivotally supported upon a stud 23 secured in a bracket 28, here shown secured to a table top 21, over which the conveyer belt I3 travels. The table 21 is so disposed with respect to the upper run of the conveyer belt l3 that the latter may be supported directly. thereon between the rollers 14 and I5, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The opposite end portion 23 of the arm 23 is shown provided at its bottom with a flange 29 having a series of apertures 3| therein adapted to selectively receive one end of a rod 32. A suitable weight 33 may be attached to the lower end of the rod 32 to counter-balance a portion of the weight of the opposite endof the arm 23.

A suitable tension spring 34 is also shown having one end connected to the flange 23 of the arm 23, and has its opposite end connected to the table top, as indicated at 35 in Figures 2 and 8. The spring 34 cooperates with the weight 33 to counter-balance a portion of the weight of the arm 23.

To further counter-balance the weight of the swinging end of the arm 23, a member 30, preferably cylindrical in cross-section, is supported in a depression or container 36, formed in the upper portion of the arm 23 directly above the and 2. The member 30 thus cooperates with the spring 34 and weight 33 to overbalance the weight of the opposite end of the arm 23 so that each time the latter is released, it will automatically swing upwardly from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in full lines in Figure 2, as-

suming, of course, that the filled package 3 has been removed therefrom.

Means isprovided for locking the arm 23 in the full line position shown in Figure 1, and comprises a latch 31 pivotally mounted upon a pin 33 supported in a bracket 45 secured to the upright frame member 28, as best shown in Figure 2. The free end of the latch 31 is arranged to en- I gage a detent 39 on a depending extension 4|, provided upon the main operating arm 23 directlybelow the pivot stud 25, as best shown in Figures l and 2. The latch 31 is operatively connected to a forked arm 42 by means of a lug 43 on the latch, and a suitable spring 44, which spring constantly tends to hold the lug 43 in engagement with the arm 42, as best shown in Pigures 6 -and 6. The forked arm 42 is supported upon the pin 33 and is co-axial with the latch 31. Bythis arrangement, the latch 31 may be moved independently of the arm 42 against the tension of the spring 44, whereby the detent 33 may actuate the latch 31, upon' its return stroke, without imparting movement to the arm 42.

1 When, however, the arm 42,is moved from its normal position in Figure 5, to the position shown in Figure '7, the latch 31 will be positively moved out of ehgagement with the detent 33, because of thelug 43 thereof being directly engaged with the arm 42. When the latch 31 is thus moved out of engagement with the detent 33,

- the arm 23 is released and is returned to its operative position, shown in full lines in Figure 2, by the combined actions of the weight 33, spring 34, and member 30.

Means is provided for manually moving the latch 31 out of engagement with the detent 33, each time a bag is fitted over the filling tube or spout i I. Such means is shown comprising a connecting rod 4; having one end pivotally connected to the forked arm 42 and its opposite end to one end of a bell crank 41, shown mounted upon a pivot 43 secured to an upright 48, as best shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4. A similar rod II has one end connected to the opposite end of the bell crank 41 and extends upwardly therefrom and has its opposite end pivotally connected to an actuating member 52, pivoted at 53 to the upright 43, and having an annular hand-engaging member 54 positioned adjacent the upper end of the filling spout I I. The hand-engaging member 54' substantially encircles the upper end of aosmaa the filling spout H and is spaced from the periphery thereof, whereby it may be conveniently engaged by the operator's hand, when fitting a bag over the spout ll.

Operation In the operation of this novel packaging mathe operator may readily fit or slip a bag over the spout II to the position shown in Figure 2. When the bag reaches substantially the position shown in Figure 2 the operators hand or hands will impinge against the operating member 54, whereby the latch 21 is actuated to release the arm 23, thereby permitting the latter to swing upwardly to its operative position, shown in full lines in Figure 2. When thus positioned, the plate 24 will engage a portion of the bottom of the bag and retain the latter in the position shown in said figure. i

The counter-balancing means at the opposite end 01' the arm 23, including the weight 33, spring 34 and element 80, are so adjusted that when a predetermined quantity of material such, for example, as one pound, is delivered into the bag from the weighing mechanism 3, the influence of said counter-balancing means is overcome by the weight oi the bag and the materlal,whereupon the'armis swung downwardly. At substantially the same instant,the delivery 01' the material into the hopper 2 is cut oil by the rotor 5, it being understood that as soon as one pound of the material has been delivered onto the rotor, best shown in Figure 9, the scale beam 8 is actuated to release the rotor 5, whereupon it makes a quarter of a turn. Such movement of the rotor 6 temporarily cuts oi! the ilow of material into the hopper 2, until another charge is delivered onto the rotor.

Just before the plate 24 engages the table top 21, or when it reaches substantially the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the upper portion of the weight element 30 engages a stop member 55, adiustably secured to an angle bracket 58 by means 01' a screw or bolt 51, the latter being received in a slot 58 provided in the stop member 55. The angle bracket, in turn, is secured to the upper pofiion oi the bracket 26 by a suitable screw or bolt 59, the bracket 58 having a slot Ii therein, whereby it may be relatively adjusted in a direction lengthwise of the conveyer.

The stop member 55 cooperates with the cylindrical member 30 to temporarily interruptthe downward movement of the arm 23 when it stood that the charge is quickly delivered into the bag and does not flow slowly therethrough. This results because of the weighing mechanism which temporarily retains the material until the predetermined quantity .is received in the con tainer 40 of the weighing mechanism, whereupon the latter is automatically released anddischarges its contents into the bag at a single charge. The arm 23 therefore moves downwardly rather quickly so that the weight element against the stop member ll.

When the weight element 30 strikes the stop 55, the downward movement of the arm 22 carrying the weight of the filled bag will temporarily come to a sudden stop, whereby said arm will rebound sufilcientlyto release the weight element 3! from the stop. II, thereby permitting said element" to roll bygravity downwardly over the inclined bottom of the receptacle 36 towards the .pivot pin 25, as indicated, before the arm again resumes its downward move.- ment, aslndicated by the dotted line 62 in Figure 2. The element ll thus moves out of alinement with the stop ll, thereby rendering it inefiective to further interrupt the downward movement of the arm 23. The arm 28 thereupon completes its downward movement and as soon as it reaches the position shown in Figure 1, the bag is deposited onto theconveyer. belt I2 and is thereby removed from beneath the filling spout ii. It is to be understood that when the arm 23' reaches-the limit of its downward movement, the

- latch 31 will move into locking engagement with the detent ll, thereby locking the arm 2! in its lowered position until it is again released by the operator actuating the member 54.

bottom of the receptacle a before it impinges The arm 42 of the latch member 31 is normally positioned as shownvin Figures Sand '7,

7 whereby the dog 31 is always in position to en- 45, independently of the arm 42, as a result of its yieldable connection therewith, so that when the detent passes the end oi the latch 31 as it is shown about to do in Figure 7, the latch willautomatically swing outwardly to the position shown in Figure 5 and thereby lock the arm in its lowered position. .The purpose oi the delayed action caused by the weight member .30 engaging the stop 55 is, as hereinbefore stated, primarily to make sure that all of the material or coffee which has been discharged from the weighing mechanism 3 into the spout I I, has been delivered into the bag before the latter is removed irom beneath the filling spout.

By the action of this novel mechanism in connection with apackaging machine, the operation,

of filling the bags is greatly expedited for the reason that the operator need not manually hold the bag in position while being filled. All that is necessary is to, slip the empty bag over the filling spout ll, whereby the arm 23 is released and swings upwardly and engages-the bottom of the bag. This, as hereinbeiore stated, results because of the operators hand engaging the operating member 54 at the upper portion of the spout. The member 54, as will be noted by reference to Figures 1 and 2, is so located that it does not require any additional movements on the part of the operator for actuating it. The upward movements of the hands in slipping the empty bag over the filling spout will cause them to engage the operating member 54, whereby the arm 23 is immediately released and moves to its operative position, shown in Figure 2. As soon as the operating member 54 has been actuated, the operator may release the bag fitted over the filling spout, and pick up another; empty bag and have it ready to slip over the filling spout,

.as soon as the preceding bag has been filled and delivered onto the conveyer belt it. Thus, the

operation oi filling the bags is greatly expedited,

and is governed only by the time it takes the material to discharge from the hopper 1 into the container 4 or the weighing mechanism 3.

In the drawings, the novel apparatus is shown as used in connection with an ordinary wellknown type of coflee-weighing and packaging machine, but it is to be understood that it may be used in connection with various other types of packaging machines, where applicable, without departing from the scope of the invention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. In a packaging machine, a bag filling mechanism, a conveyer beneath said mechanism adapted to receive the filled bags and convey them from said mechanism to a suitable destination, a member adapted to support an empty bag in an elevated position to receive a charge 0! material and automatically delivering the filled bag onto said conveyer, a fixed stop and a rollable element carried by said member and arranged to engage said stop and temporarily interrupt the downward movement of the member, when it approaches the conveyer, thereby to allow the full charge to discharge from the spout into the bag before the filled bag is deposited on the conveyer.

,2. In a packaging machine, bag filling means comprising a spout over which the empty bags are fitted to receive a charge, a conveyer beneath said spout for receiving the filled bags, means for constantly operating said conveyer, a movable member for supporting the empty bag in an elevated position on said spout, said member being adapted to be moved downwardly by the weight of the filled bag, thereby to deposit it on the conveyer in an upright position and gravity operated means ior temporarily interrupting gthe downward movement of the movable member when it approaches the conveyer, thereby to allow the full charge to discharge from the spout into the bag before the filled bag is deposited on the conveyer.

3. In a packaging machine, a mechanism io'r delivering a predetermined charge of material into each bag and comprising a spout over which the empty bags are fitted, a conveyer beneath said spout for receiving the filled bags, means for constantly operating said conveyer, a member for supporting the empty bag in an elevated position on said spout while being filled, said member being adapted to be moved. downwardly by the weight of the filled bag to deliver the bag on the conveyer in an upright position, a fixed stop. and an element movably supported on said member and arranged to engage said stop just before the member reaches the limit of its downward movement, thereby to temporarily interrupt the downward movement of the bag to permit it to receive a full charge from the spout before it is 'removed from beneath the spout by the conveyer.

4. In a packaging machine, bag filling'means comprising a spout over which the empty bags are fitted, a conveyer beneath said spout, a member mounted for vertical movement and adapted to support the empty bag on said spout, said member being adapted to be actuated by the weight of the filled bag, whereby the latter isdelivered onto said conveyer, and means for temporarily interrupting the downward movement of the member, when once it has been set into motion by the bag, to thereby permit all of the material in the spout to be delivered into the bag .will be delivered into the bag before the latter is removed from beneath the spout by the conveyer.

6. In a packaging machine. a weighing mechanism for delivering a predetermined charge into each bag or container comprising a filling spout, and a conveyer beneath said spout, a bag supporting arm mounted for pivotal movement, a

latch normally retaining said arm in inoperative position adjacent to the conveyer, whereby an empty bag may readily be fitted over the spout, an operating member at the upper portion of said spout connected to said latch and adapted to be actuated by the operator's hand, when an empty bag is fitted over the spout, whereby said arm is released and moves to bag supporting position, said arm being adapted to be moved downwardly by the weight of a filled bag to thereby deliver the latter onto said conveyer, and means ior temporarily interrupting the downward movement oi the arm as it approaches the limit of its downward movement, to thereby permit all of the material in the spout to be delivered into the bag, before the latter is delivered onto said conveyer.

7. In a packaging machine, a mechanism for delivering a predetermined charge into each bag and comprising a spout over which the empty bagis fitted, a bag supporting arm mounted for pivotal'movement and having a plate at one end adapted to engage a bag, means for normally retaining said arm in spaced relation from the lower end of said filling spout to thereby permit an empty bag to be readily fitted over the spout, means at the upper portion of said spout connected with said arm retaining means and adapted to be actuated wherr an empty bag is fitted over the spout, whereby the arm is released and moves to b supporting position, and a member mounted for limited rolling movement on said arm and arranged to engage an adjustable stop, to thereby temporarily interrupt the downward movement of said arm, Just before the filled bag is delivered onto the conveyer.

8. The combination with a packaging machin adapted to deliver a predetermined quantity of material into each container, and comprising a filling spout over which the empty bag is fitted to receive a charge, and a conveyer for receiving the filled bag, oi! a pivot member adapted to en gage and support the empty bag in position upon said spout, the opposite end of said arm having a recess therein, an element in said recess adapted for limited'movement lengthwise of he member, a stop positioned in the path or said element and adapted to be engaged thereby, when the bag supporting end oi the arm is moved downwardly by the weight of a filled bag, whereby the operation oi said arm is temporarily interrupted to thereby permit all of the material in the spout to be received in the bag before the latter is delivered onto the conveyer.

9. -The combination with a packaging machine for delivering a predetermined quantity of material into each container, and comprising a filling spout and a conveyer located therebeneath, of a mechanism for supporting the empty bag upon said spout comprising an arm having one end adapted to engage the bag, means at the opposite end of the arm constantly urging the bag engaging end of said arm in an upward direction to support the bag on said spout, a latch for locking the arm in inoperative position adjacent to the conveyer to thereby permit an empty bag to be readily fitted over said spout, an operating member adjacent to said spout connected to said latch and whereby the latter may be actuated to release the arm, when a bag is fitted over the spout, and whereby the bag engaging end of said arm will move to bag supporting position, and an element movably supported in the opposite end of said arm and adapted to engage a stop, when the bag engaging end of the arm is moved downwardly by the weight of a filled bag, whereby the downward movement of said end of the arm is temporarily interrupted, as it approaches the limit of its downward movement,

to thereby prevent the bag from being delivered onto the conveyer until all of the material in the spout has been received therein. 7

10. A mechanism comprising a conveyer adapted for continuous operation, a frame member, an arm pivotally supported on said frame member and having one end adapted to receive an article and deliver it to the conveyer, means at the opposite end of the arm constantly urging the article-engaging end thereof in an upward direction, a lock for securing said article-engaging end in a position adjacent to the conveyer, said arm having a recess at the opposite end thereof, an element mounted for limited rolling movement in said recess, a stop positioned to be engaged by said element when the article-engaging end of the arm is moved downwardly, whereby the operation of said arm is temporarily interrupted, when the article-engaging end thereof I Y reaches a position adjacent to the conveyer, such means whereby said locking meansixnay be actuated to release the arm and permit it to move to a load-receiving position.

11. In a packaging machine for delivering a measured quantity of materialinto a bag, a 1111- mg spout, a conveyeradapted for continuous operation, a movable member interposed between the spout and the conveyer adapted to support the bag during the filling operation and subsequently deliver the filled bag to the conveyer, means whereby said member is gradually moved downwardly with the bag, as the latter is being filled, and means associated with said member for interrupting the downward movement thereof, just before it deposits the filled bag on the conveyer, thereby to allow the full charge to be delivered into the bag, before the bag is removed from beneath the spout.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a filling spout over which an empty bag may be fitted to receive a charge, a conveyer, a member mounted for up and down movement between the spout and the conveyer and adapted to support the bag on the spout during the filling operation, and subsequently deliver the filled bag to the conveyer, means whereby said member is gradually moved downwardly with the bag, as the latter is being filled, and means operatively associated with said member adapted to temporarily interrupt its downward movement, Just before the top or the bag mouth disengage: the lower end of the spout, thereby to allow the full charge to be delivered into the bag before the bag is removed from beneath the spout.

BRADFORD R. BTETBON. 

